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We’re one step closer to a fully unified Marriott brand. The combined Starwood/Marriott loyalty program is now officially called Marriott Bonvoy, so you can kiss those purple SPG Amex cards goodbye. Well, soon at least; while the Bonvoy branding is live today and you can now sign up for two of the cobranded Amex cards and earn 100k bonuses, the physical credit cards won’t get the updated Bonvoy branding until March.

Based on TPG’s valuations, 100,000 Marriott points are worth $900. Before the branding switchover, both of these cards offered 75,000-point welcome bonuses (after $3,000 in spending in the first three months), so this 100k offer gets you an additional $225 in value.

If these card names aren’t familiar to you just yet, no one could blame you. The Bonvoy Brilliant was previously known as the SPG Luxury Amex, while the Bonvoy Business was formerly the SPG Business Amex. The Bonvoy branding just went live online and in marketing, but until all credit cards have been updated to Bonvoy names and designs over the next few months, we’ll still be in a bit of an awkward in-between period.

Up to $300 statement credit for Marriott purchases — Each card member year, you and your authorized users will receive up to a total of $300 in statement credits for Marriott and SPG purchases charged to your card. This applies to room rates as well as incidentals charged to your room. So even if you just have a few Marriott stays in a year, it’s easy to take advantage of this benefit and effectively cut your fee to $150.

Annual free night award — Each year on your card anniversary, you’ll receive a free night award worth up to 50,000 points. This gets you more value than the free night certificates that come with other cards such as the Marriott Bonvoy Business, since those are capped at 35,000 points.

Automatic Gold elite status — Just for being a card holder. This gets you a 25% points bonus and space-available upgrades to enhanced rooms, among other perks. You can earn Platinum elite status when you spend $75,000 on the card in a calendar year.

Application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

Priority Pass lounge access

Elite Night Credits — Receive 15 elite-qualifying night credits per year. This benefit is identical to that of the regular Marriott Bonvoy Amex and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase and is limited to one per member, not one per card.

The Bonvoy Brilliant also joins the ranks of metal cards, and in dropping its SPG branding it’s switched from a purple design to a more minimal texturized black look. However, the metal card design won’t be available until March, so if you apply now you’ll receive the purple SPG Luxury Amex card in the interim.

Finally, starting on Mar. 28, the Bonvoy Brilliant will offer a $100 luxury credit. This will apply to stays of two nights or longer at St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton properties, and you must use a special rate code to get the credit. Unfortunately, it won’t apply to room rates, but it is uncapped so you can use it multiple times a year.

So in short, you can’t have the Ritz-Carlton card, which is no longer open for new applicants, and you can’t have earned a welcome bonus/upgrade bonus on three of the Chase-issued Marriott cards in the last 24 months (or opened any of those three in the last 90 days). This means you can have both the Marriott Bonvoy Amex that recently closed to new applicants and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant.

Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex

The Marriott Bonvoy Business has a $95 annual fee that’s waived the first year (See Rates & Fees), and no foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees). It largely offers the same benefits as the personal Marriott Bonvoy Amex (SPG Amex) that recently closed applications, with a few extra perks like additional bonus categories added in.

6x points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels; 4x points at US restaurants, at US gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from US service providers and on US purchases for shipping; 2x points on everything else

Free award night — Each year after your account anniversary, get a free award night that can be used at properties that cost up to 35,000 points.

Complimentary Silver elite status — And you can upgrade to Gold status after spending $35,000 on the card in a calendar year.

Premium on-property internet access

Boingo Wi-Fi — Free, unlimited access at hot spots worldwide on up to four devices with the Boingo American Express Preferred Plan

Additionally, a few changes are in store:

A second free award night — Starting Mar. 28, you’ll be able to earn a second award night for properties that cost up to 35,000, after you spend $60,000 on the card in a calendar year.

Annual fee increasing to $125 — Also starting Mar. 28, the card’s annual fee will increase to $125 from $95. If you apply for the Bonvoy Business Amex before the 28th, you’ll get the fee waived the first year and then pay $95 the second year before ultimately moving to the $125 fee starting on the third year. So definitely try to apply before Mar. 28 if you’re interested so you can lock in the lower fee for a year.

So in short, you can’t earn the welcome bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex if you currently hold either of the Marriott business credit cards issued by Chase (neither of which are currently open to new applicants) or if you’ve opened the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless or the Marriott Bonvoy Premier in the last 90 days, or earned the welcome bonuses on those two cards in the last 24 months.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking to boost your Marriott points balance — potentially to lock in some award stays before the program adds Category 8 pricing and updates its award chart in March — these 100,000-point offers can come in handy. Both the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex and Bonvoy Business Amex also offer some valuable perks for Marriott guests, including 6x points earning on Marriott purchases and automatic elite status. Make sure to apply by Apr. 24, because that’s when these elevated offers will end.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, please click here.For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex, please click here.

Know before you go.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card

Limited Time Offer! Earn 100,000 points with this card after spending $5,000 within the first 3 months. TPG values 100K Bonvoy points to be worth around $900. Aside from the huge welcome offer you'll earn up to $300 in statement credits each year and 1 free night every year after cardmember anniversary.

Limited time offer: Earn 100,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Offer ends 4/24/2019.

Enjoy up to $300 in statement credits each year of Card Membership for eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. 3 points at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2 points on all other eligible purchases.

Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel. Certain hotels have resort fees.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our advertising policy page for more information.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.